To investigate changes in the management of benign lower urinary tract dysfunction in England from 2013 to 2024 using data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database.
Key Findings:
Significant downtrend in surgical numbers for functional urological procedures from 2013 to 2024, with implications for patient care.
Tape insertion procedures (TVT and TOT) dropped from an average of 8319 per year (2013-2018) to 8 per year (2019-2024).
Bulking agents became the mainstay treatment for SUI, with 2490 procedures per year from 2019-2024.
Colposuspension procedures showed a small but significant increase, averaging 467 per year.
Mean age for tape insertion was 52.3 years and for bulking was 55.9 years.
Interpretation:
The data indicate a shift in surgical practices for benign lower urinary tract dysfunction, with a decline in traditional tape procedures and an increase in the use of bulking agents, highlighting the need for adaptation in clinical practice.
Limitations:
Aquablation and bipolar enucleation were not included due to lack of dedicated OPCS codes, potentially underrepresenting the full scope of surgical options.
Prostate artery embolisation was excluded as it encompasses other procedures.
Conclusion:
The study highlights significant changes in surgical management trends for benign lower urinary tract dysfunction in England over the past decade, reflecting evolving clinical practices and patient preferences, which may influence future treatment guidelines.
